Occupational Therapy Assistant

occupational therapy jpg Department Chair: Ann Custer
The LBCC Occupational Therapy Assistant program is currently under development to become a two-year associate degree program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. 

The program will use a hybrid delivery model for statewide distribution, with the didactic portion of the program delivered via distance technology to allow participation by students at remote sites, and the laboratory and clinical portions delivered locally and at partner sites.

The college is working toward a start date of September 2010. A group of 24 students will be admitted to each class, including students from other community colleges in Oregon who have agreed to participate.

Students will develop an understanding of occupational therapy theory and practice, including activity analysis and problem solving for helping clients meet their goals. Successful graduates will be eligible and prepared to sit for the national certification examination, and to function as entry-level occupational therapy assistants in a variety of settings.

Below is the planned class information. Please be aware that, as this is a developing program, there could be changes in any part of the sequence below.

For detailed timelines, application process and other information, please go the Occupational Therapy Assistant Bulletin at www.linnbenton.edu/go/forms and scroll to Special Admission Programs and the OTA Bulletin.

OTA Program Course Sequence
Prior to Fall Term 
PSG 276DE Strategies for Healthcare Programs1
Fall Term
OTA 120Occupational Therapy Process I3
OTA 140Activity Analysis I3
BI 121Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology I4
PSY 201General Psychology I3
WR 121English Composition3
Winter Term
OTA 130Occupational Therapy Process II3
OTA 150Activity Analysis II3
BI 122Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology II4
PSY 215Introduction to Developmental Psychology3
______[Speech]3
Spring Term
OTA 135Early Childhood Theory & Practice5
OTA 160Level I Fieldwork1
OTA 125Therapeutic Use of Self1
PSY 219Introduction to Abnormal Psychology3
PE 231Lifetime Health & Fitness3
Summer Term
OTA 145Adolescent & Young Adult Theory & Practice5
OTA 160Level I Fieldwork1
Fall Term
OTA 220Middle & Older Adult Theory & Practice5
OTA 160Level I Fieldwork1
______[Cultural Diversity and Global Awareness Perspective]3
______[Science, Technology and Society Perspective]3
Winter Term
OTA 240Administration & Management3 (compressed)
OTA 260Level II Fieldwork A10
OTA 261Level II Fieldwork A Seminar1
Spring Term
OTA 230Innovative Theory & Practice3 (compressed)
OTA 270Level II Fieldwork B10
OTA 271Level II Fieldwork B Seminar1
 Total Program Credits =96

Students must complete Level II fieldwork within 18 months of completion of the didactic portion of the program. Students must fulfill all graduation requirements within 36 months of admission into the program.      

Linn-Benton Community College's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program has applied for accreditation and been granted Developing Program Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.  ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA.  Once accreditation of the program has been obtained, its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).  After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).  In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.  Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.